Rapid response

I would like to clarify a misunderstanding in the article on the University of Sunderland ("'Fleet-footed' bid to deal with shortfall", THES , May 25).

What I was trying to say in our interview was that although the academic world is often perceived as being rather slow to change and to adapt, my university - rather than me personally - is generally seen as having been innovative and responsive over a period of rapid growth in the 1990s.

I commented that the challenge for the university's leadership was to be just as agile and fleet-footed in the current and forthcoming period in order to secure our future success and prosperity, Peter Fidler
Vice-chancellor
University of Sunderland